Friday night at the MCG saw a dour and defensive match as Melbourne hosted Carlton. The Demons, flooding numbers back throughout the evening, frustrated Carlton’s running game and turned the game into a defensive slog; but the Blues had enough firepower to prevail by 47 points.A sloppy opening from both sides set the tone for what would be a tough evening, with plenty of hard tackles and silly turnovers. It took nearly 20 minutes for a goal to be scored, but once Setanta O’hAilpin finally broke the drought, the Blues were able to add two more to go to a 14-point lead at quarter time. But the Blues were their own worst enemy in their attempts to break the Melbourne tagging, with some ordinary free kicks given away and some wasteful finishing in front of goal. But the Demons had little firepower of their own, and for all their attempts to deny the Blues possession, they could manage only three goals themselves for the first half, and at the long break the Blues were 16 points to the good.The Blues got some breathing space when Andrew Walker was awarded a free kick and goaled in the opening minute of the third term. And when Walker goaled again at the 15-minute mark, the lead was out to nearly five goals and out of Melbourne’s reach. The Demons scored only one goal in the third term, and with a 29-point lead at three-quarter time, the Blues were heading to victory.The first three quarters had been low-scoring, but the Blues finally shook off the Demon attentions in the final term, to kick five goals for the quarter and blow the final margin out to 47 points. The Demons had fought hard all evening, but didn’t have the firepower to match it with the Blues and never looked capable of kicking a competitive score.Carlton 3.4 5.8 8.12 13.15 (93)Melbourne 1.2 3.4 4.7 6.10 (46)Goals : Carlton – S O’hAilpin 3, A Walker 2, E Betts 2, J Waite 2, M Murphy, C Yarran, D Armfield, J Garlett. Melbourne – C Sylvia, R Petterd, L Jurrah, J Rivers, M Newton.Best : Carlton – M Murphy, C Judd, M Robinson, A Carrazzo, D Gibbs, H Scotland. Melbourne – C Sylvia, B Green, J Macdonald, J McKenzie, S Martin, J Watts.Injuries : Carlton - Russell (hamstring), Laidler (knee). Melbourne – Nil.Substitutions : Carlton - J Russell (hamstring) replaced by D Armfield in the first quarter. Melbourne - M Warnock replaced by D Nicholson in the third quarter.Reports – Nil. Umpires – McBurney, Nicholls, Armstrong.Crowd - 47,464 at MCG.

A thriller at Docklands on Saturday afternoon saw Sydney hang on in the final minutes to defeat North Melbourne by a point.The Kangaroos got off to a flying start, with the first three goals of the game. Drew Petrie went up forward in the early stages of the game, and with two first quarter goals played a role in getting the Kangaroos out to an early lead. The margin was 13 points at quarter time, and the Kangaroos had chances to extend the lead in the second term. But inaccuracy prevented the Kangaroos from capitalising on their opportunities, as they kicked 2.6 in the second quarter. And a late fightback by the Swans reduced the margin to two points at half time.The third quarter saw both sides attempting to pull away from their opponents, but neither were able to. The lead changed three times for the quarter, with the Swans scoring three goals to two and leading by four points at the last change. And so the game went down to the last quarter, which was an arm-wrestle.

Adam Goodes scored an early goal for the Swans, but midway through the final quarter the Kangaroos made their move. Two goals in a minute, to Drew Petrie and Daniel Wells, gave the Kangaroos the lead. But the Swans weren’t done yet, and moved the ball forward for Ben McGlynn to snap his third goal at the 22 minute mark to put the Swans back in front. Leigh Adams had a chance to regain the lead, but his set shot sailed wide, as the five minute warning light came up on the TV coverage.For the five remaining minutes the Kangaroos locked the ball into their forward line, but even with the ball camped in the scoring zone they were unable to even rush a behind to force a draw; and the siren finally sounded to give the Swans the win by the narrowest of margins.Sydney 1.3 5.8 8.11 10.12 (72)North Melbourne 3.4 5.10 7.13 9.17 (71)Goals : Sydney – B McGlynn 3, A Goodes 2, L Roberts-Thomson, S Reid, J McVeigh, M Seaby, L Johnston. North Melbourne – D Petrie 3, S Thompson 2, A Edwards 2, J Macmillan, D Wells.Best : Sydney – H Grundy, C Bird, M Mattner, R O’Keefe, J McVeigh, B McGlynn. North Melbourne – A Swallow, D Petrie, D Wells, S Thompson, J Ziebell, L Adams.Injuries : Sydney – Nil. North Melbourne - T Goldstein (jarred elbow).Substitutions : Sydney - L Parker replaced by L Jetta in the fourth quarter. North Melbourne - B Cunnington replaced by B Speight at three quarter time.Reports – Nil. Umpires - Kennedy, Dalgleish, Schmitt.Crowd - 24,267 at Etihad Stadium.

St Kilda pulled off an upset, taking an important step towards rescuing their season, when the Saints travelled to Subiaco on Saturday afternoon and defeated the Dockers by 46 points.Flooding numbers back, St Kilda time and time again frustrated the Fremantle forwards, holding the Dockers to only one goal in the first half. The Saints made better use of their opportunities to lead by 25 points at the first change, but the Saints were in a spot of bother when Brendan Goddard got into a collision in the first quarter and got concussed, playing no further part in the game.By half time the Saints’ lead was out to 45 points, the Dockers’ game falling apart as quickly as the Saints could apply the pressure. But the unrelenting work of the Saints in the first half would take its toll, as throughout the course of the afternoon Goddard was joined in the medical rooms by Sean Dempster, Jason Blake and Tom Lynch, eliminating the Saints’ interchange options.But Fremantle were having an off game, and were in no position to capitalise on the Saints’ injury woes. The second half would be closer, but there was no way back into the game for Fremantle as, despite the injuries, confidence was beginning to return to the St Kilda camp. Their second win on the trot sees the Saints move up the ladder, making a step towards salvaging their season after the slow start to the season and the turmoil of the pre-season.St Kilda 4.4 8.8 12.9 15.12 (102)Fremantle 0.3 1.5 4.10 7.14 (56)Goals : St Kilda – A Schneider 4, B Peake 3, C Jones 2, L Montagna 2, D Armitage, S Milne, A Siposs, J Steven. Fremantle – G Broughton 2, K Bradley, P Duffield, S Hill, R Palmer, M Pavlich.Best : St Kilda – N Dal Santo, J Steven, S Gilbert, B McEvoy, L Montagna, B Peake. Fremantle – G Broughton, P Duffield, D Mundy, M De Boer, M Pavlich, T Mzungu.Injuries : St Kilda – B Goddard (neck), S Dempster (head), J Blake (knee), T Lynch (finger). Fremantle – Nil.Substitutions : St Kilda - N Winmar replaced B Goddard at quarter time. Fremantle - D Roberton replaced J van Berlo in the third quarter.Reports : St Kilda - B Peake for striking D Roberton in the third quarter.Umpires - Margetts, Jeffery, Mollison.Crowd - 35,483 at Patersons Stadium.

Gold Coast’s new home ground at Metricon Stadium was opened in style, a sellout crowd witnessing spectacular fireworks and entertainment before the Suns took on powerhouse Geelong. The match, the first meeting between Gary Ablett and his old club, saw the Suns put up a fight early before the Cats took control in the second half to run out 66-point winners.The vocal crowd had plenty to make noise about early, as the Suns got out to an early lead. With Nathan Krakouer kicking a double in the first half, the Suns held a shock 20 point lead at quarter time. And going on with the job in the second term, the Suns looked a chance to pull off an upset. Midway through the quarter, rugby league convert Karmichael Hunt lobbed a magnificent goal from 55 metres, bringing the crowd to their feet.But the Cats fought back late in the quarter, reducing the Suns’ lead to 11 points at half time. And the second quarter was one-way traffic, as the Suns were held to one goal in the second half as the Cats took control of the contest.Steven Johnson was the dominant force, finishing with seven goals in a best-on-ground performance. James Podsiadly was also dangerous up forward, with four goals. Around the ground, James Kelly and Joel Selwood were ball magnets as the Cats showed the Gold Coast crowd an exhibition of their class. The Suns had worked hard during the first half, bringing some hope of an upset, but were unable to go on with the job after half time in the wake of the Geelong onslaught.Geelong 3.2 8.3 16.9 21.13 (139)Gold Coast 6.4 9.8 10.11 10.13 (73)Goals : Geelong – S Johnson 7, J Podsiadly 4, J Selwood 2, M Stokes 2, C Ling, J Hunt, D Menzel, N Vardy, J Cowan, T Hawkins. Gold Coast – Z Smith 2, N Krakouer 2, J Brennan, D Stanley, T Lynch, S Iles, K Hunt, C Dixon.Best : Geelong – S Johnson, J Kelly, J Selwood, C Ling, M Stokes, J Podisadly. Gold Coast –J Brennan, M Rischitelli, D Stanley, G Ablett, Z Smith, J Harbrow.Injuries : Geelong – Nil. Gold Coast – Nil.Substitutions : Geelong - T Hawkins replaced by J Cowan in the third quarter. Gold Coast -D Harris replaced by D Prestia at start of fourth quarter.Reports – Nil. Umpires - Rosebury, Leppard, Findlay.Crowd - 21,485 at Metricon Stadium.

Richmond took their home game against Port Adelaide to Darwin. The switch in venues was lucrative financially for the Tigers; but on the field it cost the Tigers dearly as Port snapped their losing streak with a 15-point victory.On a warm and humid Saturday night, it took the teams over 20 minutes for the first goal to come. Eventually it came, after Jay Schulz pulled down a spectacular pack mark and made no mistake with the goal. Tyrone Vickery quickly replied for the Tigers, and the Power took a two-point lead to the quarter time huddle.The second term saw the Tigers create plenty of scoring chances, but poor finishing would let them down. The Tigers kicked 3.7 for the quarter, and although they took the lead, the nine point margin at the long break was significantly less than their efforts for the quarter would have justified.It was goal for goal early in the third term, and by midway through the quarter the teams had kicked three goals apiece. But the latter stages of the quarter saw the momentum shift, as Port lifted around the ground. The Power kicked the last three goals of the quarter, hitting the front and leading by 11 points at the last change. And, having a sniff of victory, the Power weren’t letting go, and five games of misery came to an end as the Power finally got themselves back on the winning list. But it was a disappointing result for the Tigers, their chance to enter the top eight going begging.Port Adelaide 1.4 3.6 9.9 13.11 (89)Richmond 1.2 4.9 7.10 10.14 (74)Goals : Port Adelaide – R Gray 4, J Schulz 3, T Boak, M Broadbent, B Jacobs, C O'Shea, S Phillips, J Westhoff. Richmond – J Riewoldt 3, J King 2, R Nahas, S Grigg, D Jackson, D Martin, T Vickery.Best : Port Adelaide – T Boak, J Westhoff, M Thomas, D Brogan, C O’Shea, R Gray. Richmond – N Foley, B Houli, B Deledio, R Nahas, D Jackson, C Newman.Injuries : Port Adelaide – Nil. Richmond – Nil.Substitutions : Port Adelaide - C Hitchcock replaced by A Moore in the last quarter. Richmond - B Miller replaced by S Tuck in the third quarter.Reports – Nil. Umpires - Farmer, Kamolins, Ryan.Crowd - 11,506 at TIO Stadium.

A minor upset on Sunday afternoon at AAMI Stadium, when Brisbane won their second game in a row, defeating a disappointing Adelaide side by 40 points.The Crows had taken the fight up to Collingwood last week, and started with another strong burst of form in the first term as they kicked the first three goals of the match, and led by 11 points at the first change. But the momentum changed after quarter time. Ashley McGrath took control on the forward line, with three goals for the quarter spearheading the Lions’ charge. The Lions kicked five goals to two for the quarter, hitting the front shortly before half time and leading by six points at the long break.Into the premiership quarter, and with the game in the balance it was the Lions who stood up and were counted. The Crows faded during the quarter, wasteful when in possession before turning the ball over too easily. The home side would achieve only one scoring shot for the quarter, while the Lions made a break with 5.4 for the quarter, extending their lead to 34 points at the last change.Any hopes of a comeback by the Crows was snuffed out early in the final term, with Ashley McGrath’s fourth goal putting the game out of their reach. The Crows let themselves down with some inaccurate finishing during the quarter, finishing with 2.6 for the quarter. The Lions by now had their tails up and coasted comfortably to victory, with four straight goals for the final quarter seeing the final margin out to 40 points.McGrath finished with four goals, while Simon Black racked up 32 possessions and Mitch Clark was a dominant force in the ruck. For the Crows, Scott Thompson was a ball magnet and picked up the ball 36 times, while Richard Douglas accumulated 33 possessions. The result sees the Lions climb off the bottom of the ladder, finally building some momentum. But the Crows, after their second straight loss, find themselves two and a half games outside the top eight.Brisbane 1.3 6.7 11.11 15.11 (101)Adelaide 3.2 5.7 6.7 8.13 (61)Goals : Brisbane – A McGrath 4, T Banfield 3, M Clark 2, J Retzlaff 2, L Power, T Collier, J O'Brien, D Rich. Adelaide – P Dangerfield, T Walker, B Smith, S Jacobs, M Wright, N van Berlo, C Knights, R Henderson.Best : Brisbane – M Clark, M Leuenberger, P Hanley, S Black, D Rich, J Redden. Adelaide –S Thompson, R Douglas, S Jacobs, N van Berlo, R Sloane, C Knights.Injuries : Brisbane – Nil. Adelaide – T Walker (knee), S Jacobs (finger).Substitutions : Brisbane - R Bewick replaced by J O'Brien in the fourth quarter. Adelaide - T Walker (knee) replaced by J Petrenko in the third quarter.Reports – Nil. Umpires - Donlon, Pannell, McInerney.Crowd - 34,583 at AAMI Stadium.

Sunday afternoon at the MCG saw Collingwood at their brilliant best, the defending champions dominating proceedings to defeat West Coast by 52 points.Josh Kennedy, coming into the game on the back of a ten-goal haul last week, got the Eagles off to a positive start with a mark and goal in the opening minute. But it would be the Eagles’ only goal for the quarter as the Magpies’ midfield began to tighten the screws. The Magpies were soon in front after a magnificent bouncing goal from the pocket by Steele Sidebottom. And the Magpies were again on top in the second quarter.The Eagles were creating opportunities but wasting them, and after their opening-minute goal, the Eagles would not score another major until time-on in the second term; and during the intervening period they kicked eight behinds. But Collingwood were in sensational touch, with a sensational snap from a tight angle on the pocket by Dale Thomas a highlight as the Magpies powered to a 27-point lead at the long break.With the first two goals of the third term, the Magpies were out to a lead that the Eagles never looked a chance to recover from. The Eagles did manage two goals for the quarter, but it wasn’t enough to go anywhere near making an impact on the deficit; and by three quarter time the Magpies were out to a 40-point lead. From there, victory was assured and the Magpies cruised to a comfortable win. With the win, Collingwood remain in a position to challenge Geelong for the competition lead. But for West Coast, the result was a reality check. The Eagles have shown considerable improvement this season compared with last year’s last place. But there’s still some way to go before the Eagles are in a position to trouble the top sides in the competition.Collingwood 4.4 7.5 11.8 16.9 (105)West Coast 1.3 2.8 4.10 7.11 (53)Goals : Collingwood – S Pendlebury 2, D Thomas 2, A Krakouer 2, T Cloke 2, J McCarthy 2, S Sidebottom, A Didak, C Dawes, D Swan, S Buckley, S Wellingham. West Coast – J Kennedy 3, M Nicoski 2, D Kerr, M LeCras.Best : Collingwood – S Pendlebury, D Thomas, H Shaw, S Sidebottom, L Ball, D Beams. West Coast – D Cox, A Embley, M Priddis, A Selwood, D Kerr, L Shuey.Injuries : Collingwood – Nil. West Coast – Nil.Substitutions : Collingwood - N Maxwell replaced by J Blair in the fourth quarter. West Coast - B Ebert replaced by C Masten in the third quarter.Reports – Nil. Umpires - Vozzo, Chamberlain, Meredith.Crowd - 52,560 at MCG.

Hawthorn’s 2011 campaign continued on its merry way, as the Hawks won their fifth game on the trot, a 29 point win over the Western Bulldogs at Docklands on Sunday evening.The Hawks played a solid but patient game plan, chipping the ball around the half forward line until players up forward broke free; resulting in a lopsided stats count as the Hawks outpossessed the Bulldogs throughout the evening. The Bulldogs scored an early goal, but the Hawks took control midway through the opening quarter and led by 18 points at the first change.The Hawks continued to strangle the Bulldogs out of the contest, holding the Bulldogs to one goal in the second term and leading by 32 points at the long break. And with the first two goals of the third term, and leading by 46 points, the Hawks looked to be cruising to victory.But, against all expectations, the Bulldogs suddenly clicked into gear and began to fight back. Kicking the last three goals of the quarter, they cut the margin to 29 points at the last change, and the first goal of the final quarter saw the gap between the two sides reduced to 23 points, less than four goals, and suddenly there was life in a contest that had looked dead and buried shortly afterwards.The Bulldog comeback went that far but it could go no further. The Hawks steadied with the next two goals to again lock the Bulldogs out of the contest. The final margin was 29 points, enough to keep the Hawks comfortably in the top four. But the Bulldogs’ season continues to unravel, preliminary final appearances in the last three years now looking a long way away from this year’s form.Hawthorn 5.3 8.7 10.11 13.13 (91)Western Bulldogs 2.3 3.5 6.6 9.8 (62)Goals : Hawthorn – L Franklin 3, S Mitchell 2, Hodge 2, Guerra 2, Roughead 2, Rioli, Osborne. Bulldogs – D Giansiracusa 3, Williams 2, Higgins, Griffen, Sherman, Boyd.Best : Hawthorn – B Guerra, L Hodge, T Murphy, G Birchall, L Shiels, M Suckling. Bulldogs –M Boyd, R Griffen, D Giansiracusa, W Minson, J Sherman, S Higgins.Injuries : Hawthorn – C Bateman (ankle). Bulldogs - E Wood (nose), S Reid (hamstring), R Hargrave (foot soreness) replaced in selected side by B Lake, B Moles (illness) replaced in selected side by L Gilbee.Substitutions : Hawthorn - C Bateman (ankle) replaced by L Bruest in the first quarter. Bulldogs - B Hall replaced by J Hill in the third quarter.Reports – Nil. Umpires - Ritchie, Stevic, Stewart.Crowd - 30,747 at Etihad Stadium.